Dear Odenton Families,

At Odenton Elementary, we know that every day—and every moment—counts. When students arrive on time and attend school regularly, they not only build strong learning habits, but they also feel connected to their teachers, classmates, and our school community. Even just a few missed days or repeated tardies can add up quickly, making it harder for children to keep pace academically and socially.

We understand that mornings can be busy and that unexpected situations come up. But we ask that you partner with us in making daily, on-time attendance a top priority for your child. Think of each day as a building block: when they are all stacked together, your child’s confidence, friendships, and learning grow stronger.

Thank you for helping us ensure that your child—and every Odenton Eagle—gets the very best chance to succeed. Together, we can make every day a great day for learning!

With appreciation,
Dessolene Davis, Principal ddavis2@aacps.org
Francis Weiss, Assistant Principal fweiss@aacps.org

Scheduled Events

10/18 - Fall Festival with trunk or treat
10/22 - Luiginos fundraiser (all day)
10/28 - Spooky Skate night 5 pm to 7 pm (Skate Zone Odenton)
FREE admission for PTA members, $5 admission for non-PTA members.
Skate rentals $5
Candy drive, class with the most candy wins a pizza party - candy due by October 10th.

Arrivals and Dismissal Updates

Carpool Lane Reminders

To keep our mornings safe, smooth, and efficient, we ask families to please follow these important guidelines for the carpool lane:

Independent Exit: The carpool lane is only for students who can independently open the car door, exit the vehicle, and walk safely to the entrance. If your child needs extra assistance getting out of the car, please park in a designated space and walk them in.
QR Code Check-In: Every student must be signed in using the QR code system. If the QR code is not scanned, your child will be marked absent unless a staff member has specifically told you otherwise. This helps us maintain accurate attendance and ensures all students are accounted for each morning.

Thank you for your cooperation and for helping us keep arrival safe, timely, and stress-free for all Odenton families!

Homework

At Odenton Elementary, we encourage families to utilize the assigned homework as a way to support student learning and strengthen home–school communication. While homework is not mandatory, it provides valuable practice in reading and math and helps reinforce classroom instruction.

Teachers will share homework assignments through take-home folders, newsletters, or emails. In addition, graded assignments will be sent home in the take-home folder each Wednesday. Please take time to review your child’s work and return the folder to school the following day.

Thank you for your continued partnership in your child’s academic success!

How to Improve Reading and Math

READ, READ, READ together outloud and silently!
Do authentic math problems featured in real life.

Volunteers

Odenton Elementary thrives because of the strong support of our families! If you are interested in volunteering at OES this year, please take a few minutes to complete our Volunteer Interest Form.

Currently; we are seeking morning office support from 8 to 9 to support tardiness and attendance.

Also seeking someone to support our lost and found section twice a month.

Parents who completed the form previously will be contacted this week if all requirements have been followed.

Needed Picture Day Volunteers

Your time and talents make a big difference for our students and staff.

#BePresent

If you are not able to mentor but you would like your student to have a mentor, each classroom teacher has the permission slip and can send them home with the student if you reach out to their classroom teacher. Then when they get the permission slip back signed, they will get it to me and I will set up someone when we have mentor ready for them!

If you have any other questions let me know :)

Mentor Flyer

What Does All Aboard Mean?

At Odenton Elementary, “All Aboard” is more than just a theme—it is our shared commitment to moving forward together.

For Students: It means every child has a seat on the learning journey. We value each student’s unique strengths and ensure no one is left behind.
For Families: It means parents and guardians are partners on the ride, working side by side with us to support children’s growth, curiosity, and confidence.
For Staff: It means we work as one team, supporting each other with professionalism, respect, and dedication so every classroom thrives.
For the Community: It means Odenton is a welcoming station where kindness, safety, and excellence are always the destination.

Together, “All Aboard” reminds us that when we unite as a school community, the journey of learning is stronger, smoother, and filled with possibility.

☀️Counselor Corner ☀️

This month, guidance lessons will include the topics of Bullying Prevention (3-5), Friendship Skills (1 &2), and Feelings/Emotions (Pre-K & K). October is national bullying prevention month, so this is the time of year that I like to address it to spread awareness and understanding in our community. We will be discussing what constitutes bullying, identify the differences between teasing and bullying, and discuss strategies that students can take to prevent/counter hurtful words. In the upper grades, we will also be completing a pre/post-test school climate survey for students to express their opinions about the cultural climate of our school. If you would like to further discuss this topic with your child, please check out this resource and reach out to me if your child expresses any concerns in school:

https://www.pacer.org/bullying/parents/helping-your-child/

Backpack Buddies Signup 25-26

Hello families, This is a service that is provided to our school through Nichols Bethel Church. Every week, they deliver backpacks (bags) to our students that provide extra snacks and smaller meals to our families for the weekend. If you NEED this service for your student(s) that attends our school, please fill in the information below and we will get them signed-up for the program. Please submit one form for each student if you have multiple students enrolled at our school. Reach out to Tommy Montgomery (tlmontgomery@aacps.org) if you have any questions or concerns.

https://forms.gle/GgUSS7B3S76hVDeE6

https://forms.gle/HPDUGdSbXx49FjyZA (Spanish)

Fifth Grade Happenings:

Important Dates

Hispanic Heritage Month: September15-October 15

October is Principal Appreciation Month

Yom Kippur: October 1 (begins at sunset)

Yom Kippur: October 2 Schools and Central Offices Closed

Custodian Appreciation Day: October 2

Picture Day: October 8

National School Lunch Week: October 13-17

Indigenous Peoples' Day: October 13

🧡AACPS Unity Day: October 14 2-Hr Early Dismissal

Diwali: October 20

Two-Hour Early Dismissal days: October 27th & 28th

Halloween Parade: October 31 at 1:30 (weather permitting; more news to follow)

Topics Discussed During Parent Forum:

Odenton Elementary Parent Forum Recap – October 1, 2025

Thank you to all the parents who attended our Parent Forum on Wednesday, October 1! It was a great opportunity to connect, share ideas, and clarify processes that help our students and school community thrive. Here are the key takeaways from the meeting:

1. Building Updates

Parents were informed about recent changes to our grounds, safety protocols, and departmentalization in certain grade levels.
Updates on other school initiatives and improvements were also shared.

2. Homework Communication

Teachers are making sure homework assignments are communicated clearly to parents.
Families can expect consistent updates and instructions to support students at home.

3. Field Trips & Chaperones

Parents requested clarity on submitting chaperone forms and the timing needed to complete fingerprinting/background checks.
Reminder: Parent volunteers only need a background check (when working in classrooms with staff), and submitting forms promptly helps speed the process. Fingerprinting for some field trips and instances where students are alone with volunteers.

4. Lunch, Allergies & Payment Accounts

Procedures for managing allergies, lunch accounts, and payments were reviewed to ensure student safety and convenience for families. No outside food for birthday celebrations are allowed due to allergies.
Students are purchasing lunch and our lunch balance is increasing. Please pay your lunch account promptly or call the office for support.

5. Classroom Parties

Discussions included planning and timing for holiday events, including Halloween (parade - no party), Winter Holidays and Valentine’s Day (party).

6. Newsletters & Communication Tools

Parents suggested creating an archive of past newsletters on the school website for easy access.
The team is exploring ways to streamline information for both parents and educators and provide support for using Canvas.

7. Opportunities for Students

Parents expressed interest in identifying programs and opportunities for high-achieving students.

8. Communication with the Board of Education

Guidance was provided on how parents can bring concerns or feedback to the Board of Education and who to contact.

We appreciate all the input and engagement from our families! Your participation helps us make Odenton Elementary an even stronger community for our students.